Plumber broke our toilet - what should we do next?

Question

Hi - I'm wrinklefree's husband. Let me add some details and bring the Q up to date:
There is actually a very difficult junction just past the cleanout, but the plumber was told about it before starting. Twice while he was rodding my wife came in and said that it sounded like he was coming up in the toilet. The third time she told us that it was broken.

The toilet itself was 50 years old, and was 5 gallon flush. It had actully saved us on a few occasions by pushing stuff through the tree roots by pure volume. EPA regulations say we CANNOT replace it with something equivalent, but must go to a low-volume flush toilet, which will present more problems in the future, not less. The solution to the root issues will cost many thousands of dollars, which we cannot afford at this time.

The plumber came back and replaced the toilet with a new/cheap one that is smaller and does not fit well into the space. It sits 2.5" away from the wall.

We have not yet paid - now what should we do?

We only have ONE bathroom and no space to add another, so turning that room into something else is NOT an option.

Also, there was nothing wrong with the other toilet that it needed to be replaced, until the plumber broke it. There is nothing wrong with using a 5-gallon flush toilet, they just cannot be installed anymore - even if you can find one (it's illegal, but if you already have one you can continue using it. and that isn't illegal.)

Answer 1

To Wrinklefree's husband,
I agree with garden clubs first half of the response. You need to call the office of the plumber you used and let them know that the installation of the new toilet is not correct. It sounds form your description that you may have toilet that we refer to in the trade as a 14" rough. While these toilets are available in just about every brand, they are not always readily available at the supply house. If this is the case, the service tech should have been upfront with you and told you that and treated the new toilet as a temporary fix until they could get the correct piece. As far as a new toilet is concerned
DO NOT GO TO HOME DEPOT under any circumstances (for too many reasons to get into in this thread).
There are many new toilets that are low water consumption units i.e. Kohlers "Cimmaron" and American Standards "Champion". Both of these units work with a larger internal flapper that is designed to drop a larger volume of in a shorter period of time that gives a flush similar to your old toilet. Negotiate with the company that did your repair. If they are an upstanding and reputable company they will do the right thing. If they are not, word of mouth travels fast and they will not be fixing many toilets for long.

Kind regards,

- Indy

Answer 2

You called a professional to do a job that you obviously could not do, and that was the plumber. He performed a job, that in so doing, he broke an antiquated toilet. He replaced the antiquated toilet with a new one, but you aren't happy, citing you don't have the money to fix the main problem, which is antiquated pipes, that allow roots to infiltrate the system, which stop up your sewer. Then, you will want a plumber to come out and rod the system, when it stops up again, knowing you should have replaced the "old" sewer pipes long ago. The plumber did exactly what any other plumber would do, and therefore any further action that you, or any of these advice givers think, is unjustified. The savings from the amount of water you save with every flush, will help you afford a new sewer system.

Answer 3

The problem is that he cannot replace it for like for like since they do not make 5 gallon flush toilets anymore.

The reason why it sits 2.5 away from the wall is obvious because the tank is smaller since its a 1.5 gallon flush.

What you really need is one of the power flush 1.5 gallon toilets. It has a pressurized tank and works off water pressure to create a very powerfull flush. The problem is that its going to cost you $300+

The problem I have here is that you had a perfectly good working toilet and the plumber replaced it with some $50 piece of crap stock toilet.

The solution is simple, you go to Home Depot and pick out a toilet that will fill the same area and that is the same color as the toilet you had before.

You call the plumber back up, nicely explain the situation and explain that the replacement toilet is un-satisfactory and that you want one that is more like the one that they broke.

Once you get a low flush that is identical to the old one in terms of size, I would then offer to pay the difference to upgrade to a power flush!

The plumber should not get away with the cheapest model available, yet he should not have to be forced to replace it with the most expensive out there (Unless it was brand new to begin with and thats what he broke)

Answer 4

It is possible that your drainfield may need replacing, I have no idea of the age of it but they can get plugged. I'd suggest getting a second opinion by a local professional. As far as needing a new tank it would depend on if the tank is damaged or broken and is leaking sewage, in my opinion I wouldn't think the tank needs replacing. It would be safe to stay in the house unless the fumes are causing you distress. But I would suggest replacing the wax rings on the toilets if this is where the gas is leaking in from. The cat licks his/her own butt, I doubt the smell will affect him/her in any way. Since you had an overflow into and probably onto the floors it's probably going to take a few days to dry out completely, open some windows, run some fans I think this could also be contributing to the smell. $2,000 for a new drain field is a reasonable price in my opinion. If everything else in the plumbing system has been/is working correctly, I couldn't foresee any other additional repairs. The house drains to the septic tank and then overflows into the leech bed, drain field. If the drain field pipe(s) get plugged the tank just fills eventually, the only cure I'm aware of is to dig it up and replace it.

Answer 5

Tell the plumber you are not satisfied. Does he guarantee his work? If so, he should replace the toilet to your satisfaction. I understand all these new regulations and I certainly understand the root and money issue.

Maybe you can locate a toilet like you had from an antique or some other kind of dealer. Look on eBay if all else fails. Check out dealers of vintage fixtures on the internet. You may have to foot all or part of the cost---but will it be worth it?

The plumber may not be happy but, so what neither are you. And you need to let him know!

Good luck. I hope everything works out OK.

Answer 6

Call the plumber, tell him you are not happy with the new toilet... it does not fit right. He obviously did not measure to find one that fit better. He just wanted the cheapest but that doesn't work for you. He Broke it, now he needs to make it PERFECT, not just easy and cheap for him.
There are toilets with different configurations... he just didn't take the time to find one... Call him (Maybe you should do some research, too. Do the measuring and then go to Home Depot see what they have that will fit better. But call the plumber, he owes you one that fits properly.

Answer 7

The plumber has to be paid, by our States law anyhow. Second, he also has to replace the toilet he broke with a reasonable replacement one that meets the standards and works as well as the one he broke, period.
If not, he is bonded and certified and licensed and, and, you see all these ands. Why in Heavens sake do you think he has all these bonds and certification, licenses and insurances for?

Why do you think I've paid more for my licenses then I've paid for three of my people in wages. I've had to send three people home some times because I haven't been able to pay for both my licenses and insurances and them. The people went.
He is paying for it, make him pay now, that's what he's paying for.

I get so angry seeing people get taken by craftsmen that should be paying for their mistakes and ripping off the citizens and get away with it, it isn't fair.

Answer 8

I'd still pay him, since it needed to be replaced anyhow.
Perhaps you could turn it into a plant pot. Just kidding. But to avoid new problems down the road, maybe you could turn that bathroom into a different room, like storage, sewing room, or whatever and remove the bathroom appliances.
I'm sure he'll take you to court if you refuse to pay him, that wont look good on your record.

Answer 9

ok lots of suggestions for the toilet problem. none for the root problem. get ridex. use it seasonally and follow the directions. it will kill the small roots in your septic line, and they will rot away. as for the toilet someone said to go to a junk dealer. i know there was one a 5 gal toilet to my grandparents that has been pulled as we prep the estate for sale. im sure there is at least one in your area. put one in my moms house i bought at an estate sale. works fine, and since my mom has one of the lowest water usages in the town they water dept doesnt care much how much she flushes.

Answer 10

Don't pay him,and take him to court.